"Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands........" 1 Thessalonians 4:11

Wednesday, August 1, 2012

You never know what might "pop up" when you walk the grounds here at Pleasant Prairie..........

I was tending to the flowers in the early morning, and startled a rather large coach whip snake, hiding in the cool shade of the leaves.....................

It dashed away and darted into a hole, however, in just a few moments, I noticed what seemed to be a stick in the ground............

and realized it was the snake, coming out of the hole,

but keeping a good eye on me. Yes, I got very close for this photo.........and yes, I have been bitten by this kind of snake before. A few years ago, I was trying to pull one away from my chickens, it swung back and popped me on the hand. They are not venomous, but can deliver a good wound.

One night, as Sophie and I went outside, I heard a crying, chirping sound. We apparently had scared a group of raccoons who were out at the feeders and a very small baby raccoon was left behind, calling out to it's mother. It ran up into the pickup tire and hid there until Sophie and I went inside.

If you remember the two little birds I named Twitter and Tweet?

They started flying and learned to eat on their own. I was able to release them into the wild and watched them fly away...........a bittersweet moment for me.

Hopefully in a couple of weeks, I will be able to show you my zinnia gardens in bloom. So far they are growing well.

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I can't say as much for my pumpkins this year. I have a few miniature Jack Be Little's.

but the vines are starting to die away..............

and I have green pumpkins this year...........but not any golden ones as of yet. The vines are starting to look weary and worn and I don't expect a good harvest. I don't know exactly what it is going wrong with them...........a whole lot of work.........with much discouragement. Too much rain on some occasions and too much high heat play a large role in this.

I have been working away at embroidering roses for bathroom towels for the bathroom. I am getting to think I am better at stitching flowers and vegetables rather than growing them.

15 comments:

I've wondered what a non-venomous snake bite would be like! I don't want to find out either! We have raccoons but rarely see them, just their tracks where I've fed the kittens. You don't want to see my garden!

Well the good thing is your embroidery will last for years and you are wonderful at it. Gardening is lovely but does not last. So keep up the wonderful hand work.

ICK on the snake! That is scary and you are too close for my comfort. The little pumpking is precious looking. You can add to your skills, bird mama... So wonderful to know they are flying out in the wild.

Do you wear boots all the time during snake season? They are so fast~ I once was gardening and came upon a big cluster under some leaves. boy did i let out a holler.I understand about your pumpkins, the best luck I ever had was when I had the ground all rototilled and had amended heavily. I got a huge crop of the flatish french ones. I'm thinking they might like loose soil. Love zinnias and can't wait to see yours in bloom!xxjulie

I love your rose towels they are going to be so pretty! My garden just looks thirsty, and with 100 degree days its just too hot to get out and weed. But I am starting to get tomatoes and Ive had a pretty good cucumber crop for the last month or so!The beans are starting to come in too!The only critter I've seen this year is the skunk who got my dog! LOL!

I love the way you take the little wild ones kind of under your wing. We are feeding a large family of raccoons; not much for them to eat this year of drought. I can imagine how beautiful your bathroom must look with your beautiful embroidered towels.

*YIKES!* I don't like those pop-up surprises Kathleen... although I have to admit, the little raccoon was cute.I'm glad Twitter and Tweet found their wings, but that empty nest has to be a little sad...Sorry about your pumpkins~ we had the same thing happen year before last. Blooms, then tiny pumpkins, but then... nothing. Hopefully next year will be better for growing everything!

Your bathroom towels are gorgeous! I think your pumpkin vines are succumbing to the heat but I'm no expert. My squash plants are finally dying away after being lush and healthy for two months...they reached almost six feet in width and three feet high! But the heat is saying, OK, now you are done. I didn't have any luck at all with my corn plants, which grew tall and produced ears, but they didn't have any kernels on them...and now the plants are brown.

The various animal visitors are darling! Except the snake :-) I can't believe one like that bit you once! But, I know you come across such critters out in the country.

About Me

After years of living in town, on a street that seemed to growl at me each time I stepped outside, my dream of country living came true a few years ago. Now my dream of creating a farm and making the land productive is in the making. I am starting out small and slow, learning as I go along. Wildflowers, tulips, and daffodils are slowly taking over the untamed land. Chickens and ducks are beginning to hatch. Pumpkins and orchards are looking hopeful. The ground and the weather can be harsh and unforgiving at times, but just like an artist with a blank canvas, I will keeping working at it until I make it beautiful. When I'm not working with the land, I am busy stitching away on my "one day linen line" and other hand embroidered projects. My cup runneth over and I am truly blessed.Please stop by my other blogs....Yesteryear Embroideries for the latest stitches, and My Country Kitchen for great recipes.